Bell 407 accident near Kala, Outside the U.S., November 10, 2020
On November 10, 2020 at about 11:37 am local time, a 2007 Bell 407 (helicopter), registered ZSMCC, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Kala, Outside the U.S.. It was flown under rules the NTSB did not record. 3 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 10, 2020 · about 11:37 am local time
- Place
- Kala, Tanzania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Bell 407, built 2007 · all 407s on the register
- Registration
- ZSMCC · no longer on the register · serial 53766
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · rules the NTSB did not record
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during takeoff defining event
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 7:00 am
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.